Meditation Myths
April 21st, 2010
Some common meditation myths:
Myth #1: Meditation is a religion
Wrong. Meditation is NOT a religion. Many people are unfamiliar with meditation and this could be part of the reason people view it as a religion. The good news is that people from various religions meditate on a regular basis. It’s a personal choice so don’t be afraid to learn more about meditation today!
Myth #2: You MUST Meditate in Lotus Position
For those of you new to meditation (or yoga) you’re probably wondering what the heck lotus is! It’s simply a position where you sit cross-legged, but with one leg calf resting on the other. Lotus is a common position for meditating, but it’s NOT a requirement for this practice! Surprisingly, you can meditate while you sit, stand, walk, dance and more. It’s not as boring as you may think 
Myth #3: To Meditate Means To Not Think
Ok, yes, you always hear people talk about quieting the mind and putting a stop to the endless mind chatter but this doesn’t mean that you turn your brain off and teach yourself not to think. Meditation is about becoming truly present and aware of yourself. It’s definitely not about turning yourself off!
Myth #4: Relaxation = Meditation
Here’s another one that can throw people for a loop! Yes, people who meditate often become more relaxed but this doesn’t mean that that’s all meditation is about. To meditate is NOT to relax and to relax is NOT to meditate.
Myth #5: Meditating is for New Age Hippies
There’s a preconceived image of meditation and the people that meditate. There’s a common misconception about meditation today because people base their opinion on false beliefs. Well I’m here to let you know that this is NOT the case! Meditation is very common among all groups of people, in fact, a lot of successful business executives meditate! The benefits are so great and diverse that it appeals to all types of people.
Myth #6: You Must Chant to Meditate Properly
While there are certain types of meditating that use mantras (these are what people chant!), this does not apply to all types. In fact, most meditations require you to be silent vs. vocal so this is good news for all of you shy people out there who prefer silence over noise
If I Meditate, I’ll Go into a Trance.
Some people claim to enter into trance-like states when they meditate, but this is not the norm and it definitely doesn’t mean that you’ll enter into a trance if you try to meditate.
Myth #8: You Must Be In A Quiet Environment To Meditate
It’s common for people to meditate in a quiet environment, but this is not a prerequisite for meditation. Max Simon is a meditation guru who believes that meditating in noisy, public places is a great way to achieve a deeper level of self-awareness. He refers to them as PDM’s or Public Displays of Meditation. Get a new persepctive on meditation and check out this PDM video on FinerMinds today. http://daily.finerminds.com/exclusive/max-simon-meditation-benefit/
Myth #9: You Can Only Learn How To Meditate By Taking A Course
Many people believe that to learn how to meditate properly they must spend a ton of money on expensive meditation courses. Yes, you can choose to attend a meditation retreat if you wish, but this is not a requirement. One of the great thing about meditation is that it can be done anywhere, anytime and by anyone and it does NOT require a bunch of money!
Myth #10: Meditation Takes A Lot Of Time
Last but not least, most people think they need a lot of time to meditate when in fact the opposite is true. Today I took a 15 minute break and meditated and it felt great! Yes, there are home study courses available (and they’re great to use sometimes) but they’re not necessary to have a successful meditation session. One of the things I love about meditating is that it’s all about you! You can design a meditation practice that suites your needs so don’t’ wait any longer and try it out today!
Mail this post
Posted in 
Tags: 
Meditations for Relaxation & Stress Relief